Published May 13, 2026 by . Last Updated May 18, 2026. 3 min read While antibodies derived from the bodies of animals continue to cause trouble in the research world , PETA scientists aren’t only finding animal-free solutions, they’re winning awards in the process! PETA scientists, along with other members of a multidisciplinary team, received the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Replication Prize for their work to solve a colossal problem with animal-derived antibodies: reliability. Antibodies are essential tools for detecting viruses, bacteria, and other molecules in research. But a research tool in science requires consistent, predictable performance. Each batch of antibodies taken from animals’ bodies, even from the same individual, differs from the next, which can lead to unexpected or undesirable outcomes. A prominent study found that nearly one-third of antibodies don’t do what they’re supposed to: stick to very specific molecules.…